Maynard Finance Committee Approves November Minutes, Plans Water Rate Outreach Push

MAYNARD -- December 8, 2025, Maynard's Finance Committee wrapped its final 2025 meeting with a deep dive into rising water and sewer costs and an unresolved question about trash funding. Chair Jillian Prendergast told members that roughly half of the town's trash collection costs, previously subsidized through the general fund, have been stripped from next-year budget projections while the town searches for an administrator to stand up a new enterprise-fund solid-waste program, leaving open whether sticker prices will spike in the short term. Committee member Nikhil Rao presented original charts tracking Maynard's tiered water and sewer rates since 2020, finding that the water service minimum charge has doubled from $20 to $40 over five years, with member-confirmed bills showing it has since risen further to $45 for fiscal year 2026. Member Linda Holt noted that water bills in her household climbed roughly 70 percent since FY16, outpacing a roughly 40 percent rise in average tax bills over the same stretch. The committee voted 6-0 with one abstention to approve amended minutes from its November 24 meeting, and plans to reconvene January 12 with water and sewer consultant Justin invited to discuss rate projections.